Westminster Shorter
Catechism
With Scriptural
Proofs*
What is the chief end
of man?
Answer: Man’s
chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. (
What rule hath God
given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
Answer: The
Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy
him. (
What do the
scriptures principally teach?
Answer: The
Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and
what duty God requires of man. (
What is God?
Answer: God
is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom,
power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. (
Are there more Gods
than one?
Answer: There
is but One only, the living and true God. (
How many persons are
there in the Godhead?
Answer: There
are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in
power and glory. (
What are the decrees
of God?
Answer: The
decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his
will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes
to pass. (
Answer: How
doth God execute his decrees?
God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
What is the work of
creation?
Answer: The
work of creation is, God’ s making all things of nothing, by the word
of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good. (
How did God create
man?
Answer: God
created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge,
righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. (
What are God’ s works
of providence?
Answer: God’
s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful
preserving, and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. (
What special act of
providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was
created?
Answer: When
God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon
condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death. (
Did our first parents
continue in the estate wherein they were created?
Answer: Our
first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from
the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (
What is sin?
Answer: Sin
is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (
What was the sin
whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were
created?
Answer: The
sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were
created, was their eating the forbidden fruit. (
Did all mankind fall
in Adam’ s first transgression?
Answer: The
covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his
posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation,
sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression. (
Into what estate did
the fall bring mankind?
Answer: The
fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. (
Wherein consists the
sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
Answer: The
sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of
Adam’ s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the
corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin;
together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. (
What is the misery of
that estate whereinto man fell?
Answer: All
mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and
curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death
itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. (
Did God leave all
mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
Answer: God
having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some
to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver
them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an
estate of salvation by a Redeemer. (
Who is the Redeemer
of God’ s elect?
Answer: The
only Redeemer of God’ s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the
eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God
and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever. (
How did Christ, being
the Son of God, become man?
Answer: Christ,
the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a
reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the
womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin. (
What offices doth
Christ execute as our Redeemer?
Answer: Christ,
as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and
of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. (
How doth Christ
execute the office of a prophet?
Answer: Christ
executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and
Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. (
How doth Christ
execute the office of a priest?
Answer: Christ
executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a
sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in
making continual intercession for us. (
How doth Christ
execute the office of a king?
Answer: Christ
executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling,
and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our
enemies. (
Wherein did Christ’ s
humiliation consist?
Answer: Christ’
s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition,
made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of
God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing
under the power of death for a time. (
Wherein consisteth
Christ’ s exaltation?
Answer: Christ’
s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third
day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God
the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (
How are we made
partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
Answer: We
are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the
effectual application of it to us, by his Holy Spirit. (
How doth the Spirit
apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
Answer: The
Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working
faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
(
What is effectual
calling?
Answer: Effectual
calling is the work of God’ s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin
and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and
renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus
Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (
What benefits do they
that are effectually called partake of in this life?
Answer: They
that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification,
adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this
life do either accompany or flow from them. (
What is justification?
Answer: Justification
is an act of God’ s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and
accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of
Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. (
What is adoption?
Answer: Adoption
is an act of God’ s free grace, whereby we are received into the
number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. (
What is
sanctification?
Answer: Sanctification
is the work of God’ s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole
man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto
sin, and live unto righteousness. (
What are the benefits
which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption,
and sanctification?
Answer: The
benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification,
adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’ s love, peace of
conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance
therein to the end. (
What benefits do
believers receive from Christ at death?
Answer: The
souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do
immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to
Christ, do rest in their graves, till the resurrection. (
What benefits do
believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
Answer: At
the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly
acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly
blessed in the full enjoying of God, to all eternity. (
What is the duty
which God requireth of man?
Answer: The
duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will. (
What did God at first
reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
Answer: The
rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the
moral law. (
Where is the moral
law summarily comprehended?
Answer: The
moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. (
What
is the sum of the ten commandments?
Answer: The
sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our
heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind;
and our neighbour as ourselves. (
What is the preface
to the ten commandments?
Answer: The
preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy
God, which have brought thee out of the
What doth the preface
to the ten commandments teach us?
Answer: The
preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the
Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his
commandments. (
Which is the first
commandment?
Answer: The
first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (
What is required in
the first commandment?
Answer: The
first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the
holy true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
(
What is forbidden in
the first commandment?
Answer: The
first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and
glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that
worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone. (
What are we specially
taught by these words [before me] in the first commandment?
Answer: These
words [before me] in the first commandment teach us, That God, who
seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the
sin of having any other God. (
Which is the second
commandment?
Answer: The
second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not
bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing
mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (
Answer: What
is required in the second commandment?
The second
commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and
entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed
in his Word. (
What is forbidden in
the second commandment?
Answer: The
second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any
other way not appointed in his Word. (
What are the reasons
annexed to the second commandment?
Answer: The
reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’ s sovereignty over
us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship. (
Which is the third
commandment?
Answer: The
third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God
in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name
in vain. (
What is required in
the third commandment?
Answer: The
third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’ s names,
titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works. (
What is forbidden in
the third commandment?
Answer: The
third commandment forbiddeth all profaning and abusing of any thing
whereby God maketh himself known. (
What is the reason
annexed to the third commandment?
Answer: The
reason annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers
of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our
God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment. (
Which is the fourth
commandment?
Answer: The
fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six
days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou,
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant,
nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day,
and hallowed it. (
What is required in
the fourth commandment?
Answer: The
fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as
he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be
a holy Sabbath to himself. (
Which day of the
seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
Answer: From
the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed
the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day
of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is
the Christian Sabbath. (
How is the Sabbath to
be sanctified?
Answer: The
Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from
such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days;
and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’
s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of
necessity and mercy. (
What is forbidden in
the fourth commandment?
Answer: The
fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of
the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing
that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or
works, about our worldly employments or recreations. (
What are the reasons
annexed to the fourth commandment?
Answer: The
reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’ s allowing us six
days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special
propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the
sabbath-day. (
Which is the fifth
commandment?
Answer: The
fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (
What is required in
the fifth commandment?
Answer: The
fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing
the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and
relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. (
What is forbidden in
the fifth commandment?
Answer: The
fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing
against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their
several places and relations. (
What is the reason
annexed to the fifth commandment?
Answer: The
reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and
prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’ s glory and their own
good) to all such as keep this commandment. (
Which is the sixth
commandment?
Answer: The
sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill. (
What is required in
the sixth commandment?
Answer: The
sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own
life, and the life of others. (
What is forbidden in
the sixth commandment?
Answer: The
sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the
life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. (
Which is the seventh
commandment?
Answer: The
seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery. (
What is required in
the seventh commandment?
Answer: The
seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our
neighbour’ s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior. (
What is forbidden in
the seventh commandment?
Answer: The
seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and
actions. (
Which is the eighth
commandment?
Answer: The
eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal. (
What is required in
the eighth commandment?
Answer: The
eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the
wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others. (
What is forbidden in
the eighth commandment?
Answer: The
eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder
our own or our neighbour’ s wealth or outward estate. (
Which is the ninth
commandment?
Answer: The
ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbour. (
What is required in
the ninth commandment?
Answer: The
ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth
between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour’ s good name,
especially in witness-bearing. (
What is forbidden in
the ninth commandment?
Answer: The
ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or
injurious to our own or our neighbour’ s good name. (
Which is the tenth
commandment?
Answer: The
tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’ s house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour’ s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his
maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy
neighbour’ s. (
What is required in
the tenth commandment?
Answer: The
tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition,
with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and
all that is his. (
What is forbidden in
the tenth commandment?
Answer: The
tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate,
envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate
motions and affections to any thing that is his. (
Is any man able
perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
Answer: No
mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the
commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and
deed. (
Are all
transgressions of the law equally heinous?
Answer: Some
sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more
heinous in the sight of God than others. (
What doth every sin
deserve?
Answer: Every
sin deserveth God’ s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which
is to come. (
What doth God require
of us, that we may escape his wrath and cursedue to us for sin?
Answer: To
escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of
us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use
of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the
benefits of redemption. (
What is faith in
Jesus Christ?
Answer: Faith
in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him
alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (
What is repentance
unto life?
Answer: Repentance
unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of
his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with
grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose
of, and endeavour after, new obedience. (
What are the outward
means whereby Christ communicateth to usthe benefits of redemption?
Answer: The
outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the
benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word,
sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for
salvation. (
How is the Word made
effectual to salvation?
Answer: The
Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the
Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of
building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto
salvation. (
How is the Word to be
read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
Answer: That
the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto
with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and
love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. (
How do the sacraments
become effectual means of salvation?
Answer: The
sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in
them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of
Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive
them. (
What is a sacrament?
Answer: A
sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by
sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are
represented, sealed, and applied to believers. (
Which are the
sacraments of the New Testament?
Answer: The
sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism, and the Lord’s supper. (
What is baptism?
Answer: Baptism
is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal
our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the
covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s. (
To whom is baptism to
be administered?
Answer: Baptism
is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church,
till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the
infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be
baptized. (
What is the Lord’s
supper?
Answer: The
Lord’s supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread
and wine, according to Christ’ s appointment, his death is showed
forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal
manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all
his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. (
What is required to
the worthy receiving of the Lord’s supper?
Answer: It
is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s supper,
that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s
body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and
new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to
themselves. (
What is prayer?
Answer: Prayer
is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his
will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful
acknowledgement of his mercies. (
What rule hath God
given for our direction in prayer?
Answer: The
whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special
rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his
disciples, commonly called The Lord’s prayer. (
What doth the preface
of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
Answer: The
preface of the Lord’s prayer, (which is, Our Father which art in
heaven) teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and
confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and
that we should pray with and for others. (
What do we pray for
in the first petition?
Answer: In
the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name) we pray, That God
would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh
himself known; and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. (
What do we pray for
in the second petition?
Answer: In
the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come) we pray, That Satan’s
kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be
advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and
that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. (
What do we pray for
in the third petition?
Answer: In
the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing
to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do
in heaven. (
What do we pray for
in the fourth petition?
Answer: In
the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread) we
pray, That of God’ s free gift we may receive a competent portion of
the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them. (
What do we pray for
in the fifth petition?
Answer: In
the fifth petition, (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors) we pray, That God, for Christ’ s sake, would freely pardon
all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his
grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. (
What do we pray for
in the sixth petition?
Answer: In
the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil) we pray, That god would either keep us from being
tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted. (
What doth the
conclusion of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
Answer: The
conclusion of the Lord’s prayer, (which is, For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen) teacheth us, to take our
encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise
him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him. And, in testimony of
our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. (